Pau-Lacq-Orthez Returns to Betclic Elite After Winning ELITE 2 Finals Against Poitiers
Pau-Lacq-Orthez secured promotion back to Betclic Elite by defeating Poitiers 86-73 in Game 3 Photo Credit: ebplo
Elan Béarnais Pau-Lacq-Orthez
It was the night Pau had been waiting for. In front of 7,634 passionate supporters at the Palais des Sports de Pau, Pau-Lacq-Orthez dismantled Poitiers 86-73 to win the ELITE 2 Finals series 2-1 and clinch a long-awaited return to Betclic ELITE. For a club that nearly ceased to exist four years ago, the emotion was overwhelming.
Marvin Clark Delivers When It Matters Most
The hero of the evening was Marvin Clark, who put on a dominant performance with 27 points and 9 rebounds in just 27 minutes, finishing with a staggering evaluation rating of 33. His effort set the tone for a collective Pau display that proved too strong for Poitiers, despite Marcus Hammond‘s valiant 22-point effort for the visitors. Bryce Nze added 12 points and 6 rebounds, while captain Bastien Pinault chipped in 10 points. Thomas Cornely orchestrated the offense with 7 points, 6 rebounds, and 8 assists, before famously riding a motorcycle around the court after the final buzzer — a symbol coach Mickaël Hay had used throughout the season to describe the team’s journey.
The series had been anything but straightforward. Pau were blown out 82-106 at home in Game 1, raising serious doubts about their ability to close the deal. But the team responded with a gutsy 81-72 road win in Poitiers to force a decisive Game 3, and then delivered when the pressure was at its highest.
A Club Reborn After Years of Turmoil
The magnitude of this promotion cannot be overstated. Pau is the third most-titled club in French basketball history, with nine championships to its name. Yet the club nearly collapsed entirely in 2022 following a disastrous crypto project, was relegated to Pro B in 2023, and spent three full seasons grinding through ELITE 2. With the largest budget in the division at 5.7 million euros and a third-highest payroll of 1.4 million euros, expectations were enormous — and the pressure boiled over in January 2026, when both coach Mickaël Hay and general manager Audrey Sauret faced intense public criticism after Pau sat 9th, outside the playoff spots.
President Guillaume Berbinau stood firm. He publicly defended his staff, declaring « we are building » and promising the club would achieve its dream of returning to Betclic Elite. What followed was one of the most remarkable turnarounds in recent French basketball history: only 4 losses in 25 games, including a 10-game winning streak that carried Pau all the way to the title.
@EBPLO monte en Betclic Elite après avoir remporté la belle de la finale des playoffs face à Poitiers dans un Palais des Sports en transe, plus de 7 500 spectateurs, 86-73 ! pic.twitter.com/XcUdIn2Pb1
— ici Béarn Bigorre (@icibearnbigorre) June 18, 2026
On the court after the final whistle, captain Bastien Pinault captured the raw emotion perfectly. « It’s a fucking dream come true, » he told France 3. Historic club president Pierre Seillant was equally moved: « We have interrupted the club’s history, » he said, signaling that the dark chapter was finally closed.
Pau-Lacq-Orthez is back where it belongs.
Comments